Dear CakeSpy...

Once again, I cannot say thank you enough to lovely Head Spy, Jessie Moore Oleson for having me on her page (check out our "Batter Chatter [aka an interview]" here).  To say thank you, I crafted some cupcake toppers specially for her to brighten up her day and of course her home made creations (that's the way bakers say THANK YOU!).  And once again, thank you for giving us such a great opportunity - to introduce our works to those, who love sweet and appreciate cupcake art, and let Mrs. G shared her passion of cupcakes and art with everyone. We are ready to take on more challenges, and are ready to create more lovely creations to make everyone smile=)

At last, thank you once again for liking the specially crafted cakespy inspired cupcake toppers and posted them as your daily feel-good picture.

 I hand painted each toppers with edible food colors to achieve
the water color feeling of the original artworks from Jessie O. 

I was thinking that's something the CakeSpy will say.

hand drawn and painted cupcake toppers

Am I tanned?

I am so hot.

I love colors.

Jamprint Cookies Recipe from OddFellows Cafe + Bar (Seattle, Wa)

Imagine from Cakespy.com

Ever since our first visit in Seattle, I have been falling in love with this city, the food, the culture and the people there.  I have been chasing after few Seattle food and dessert blogs since we had gotten back from our trip last year.  Few months ago, I made these Jamprints Cookies based on the recipe I found from the OddFellows Cafe + Bar's facebook page.  I altered the recipe a little bits by adding some fresh lemon zest.

The cookies came out so moist and yummy.  Here is their secret:

Jamprints Cookies

Imagine from PRZman.com

Ingredients

• 0.75 lbs butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 3.5 cups flour
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• flaked coconut, for edges
• jam (of your choosing), about 1 teaspoon per cookie

Instruction:
Preheat oven to 350

1.     Cream butter + sugar in mixer w/ paddle attachment, add vanilla + salt

2.     Sift in the flour, mix until dough comes together

*Optional:  Adding lemon zest in the batter

3.     Wrap in plastic, chill for 1 hr
4.     Roll it into 1 ounce balls, dip balls in egg wash + roll in flaked coconut

5.     Put ball on a baking sheet + indent the top, fill with jam.

6.    Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until coconut is toasted and jam thickens.

Very easy to make and very tasty! 

Thanks Oddfellows to share their recipe.

Take me out to the fair, take me out with the crowd...

Cute cakes I saw at the OC Fair the past weekend, enjoy=)

(Note:  The theme of the OC Fair this year is "Let's Eat!")

Seeking Sweetness in Everyday Life - Cakespy

I mentioned that Mr. G and I went to Seattle last year on my preivous post.  During our trip, we stopped by Capitol Hill because I wanted to check out an art gallery + store,CakeSpyShop there and it's walking distance from the hotel we stayed. 

This little store has all kinds of "sweet" treats (sorry, nothing edible though) inside, art works, cupcake stands, dessert stickers, ice cream lamp, dessert wallets, donut t-shirts, just everything sweet...

I was so happy to meet the artist and the owner of Cake Spy, Jessie Oleson (aka head spy) at her very own store.  She is such a sweet and welcoming person to meet with! When we got there, she was about to go out for running some errands. As soon as she saw us, she asked us if we wanted to come in.  She told us she could go later...

Since that trip, I have been following her cakespy blog till now.  Her blog is very fun to read because she interviews different bakeries, ice cream shops, candy shop throughout the country.  Also, she has a lot of great or interesting recipes for us to follow.  Of course, her artworks are also amazing and "sweet" too!  She has a new book coming out and I can't wait to get a copy of it.

 In front of CakeSpyShop (415 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122)

(between Bellevue Ave & Crawford Pl) Little Cuppy is welcoming us!

Jessie's art work inside the shop.

 Ice cream lamp inside the shop.

 Jessie and I

I bought some "sweet" postcards from CakeSpyShop.  Look at the little cuppies by the Seattle Space Needle.

New book (Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life) by CakeSpy (photo courtesy of CakeSpy.com)